Andrew Wiggins made his NBA debut on Tuesday night in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 103-90 preseason loss to the Indiana Pacers. Wiggins shot only 4-of-11 from the field, but still finished the night with 18 points, four rebounds, three blocks and three assists. The No. 1 overall pick certainly flashed the potential everyone saw in him coming out of Kansas.
Andrew Wiggins looked like a future star in his preseason debut
The No. 1 pick scored 18 points in his first taste of NBA action.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Here are the full highlights from his debut:
What can we learn from Wiggins’ first taste of NBA action?
1. He’s going to get to the foul line: While Wiggins’ handle, court vision and playmaking abilities will need some time to develop, he can still have a positive impact on the Timberwolves’ offense as a rookie by getting to the foul line. He attempted 10 free throws against the Pacers, making eight of them. With a quick first step and the strength to get the shot attempt off through traffic, there won’t be many NBA defenders that can keep him from getting to the line.
2. His defense looks pro ready: The most impressive highlight here isn’t the turn-around fadeaway or the corner three. Watch the way Wiggins defends Solomon Hill in the third quarter (around 1:50 in the video) from the right corner to the middle the floor, staying in front of him the whole time and eventually blocking his shot to start a fastbreak.
3. Teams will scout his spin move: The spin move has been Wiggins’ go-to since his days on the AAU circuit. He wasn’t shy about using at Kansas, either. In the NBA, he’ll have to develop other moves, or defenders will start to expect it whenever he finds himself at a dead-on a drive. That he used the spin move at least twice in his first preseason game shouldn’t surprise anyone who watched his amateur career.
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